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Eble JN, Sauter G., Epstein JI, Sesterhenn IA - iarc

Eble JN, Sauter G., Epstein JI, Sesterhenn IA - iarc

Eble JN, Sauter G., Epstein JI, Sesterhenn IA - iarc

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prostate adenocarcinomas exhibit AR<br />

immunoreactivity in greater than 50% of<br />

tumour cells, with increasing heterogeneity<br />

occurring with increasing histologic<br />

grade and pathologic stage {1592}.<br />

Some studies have shown AR heterogeneity<br />

or loss in a subset of AR independent<br />

tumours, suggesting one mechanism<br />

of androgen resistance may be AR<br />

loss {1592,2559}. Because androgen<br />

insensitivity may occur without loss of AR<br />

immunoreactivity, positive AR immunophenotype<br />

may not reliably distinguish androgen<br />

dependent from independent tumours<br />

{1592}. Imumunostaining for AR is not in<br />

routine clinical use.<br />

Histologic variants<br />

The following histologic variants of<br />

prostate adenocarcinoma are typically<br />

seen in association with ordinary acinar<br />

adenocarcinoma. However, on limited<br />

biopsy material, the entire sampled<br />

tumour may demonstrate only the variant<br />

morphology.<br />

Atrophic variant<br />

As described under histopathology, most<br />

prostate cancers have abundant cytoplasm.<br />

An unusual variant of prostate<br />

cancer resembles benign atrophy owing<br />

to its scant cytoplasm. Although ordinary<br />

prostate cancers may develop atrophic<br />

cytoplasm as a result of treatment (see<br />

carcinoma affected by hormone therapy),<br />

atrophic prostate cancers are usually<br />

unassociated with such a prior history<br />

{467,664}. The diagnosis of carcinoma in<br />

these cases may be based on several<br />

features. First, atrophic prostate cancer<br />

may demonstrate a truly infiltrative<br />

process with individual small atrophic<br />

glands situated between larger benign<br />

glands. In contrast, benign atrophy has a<br />

lobular configuration. A characteristic<br />

finding in some benign cases of atrophy<br />

is the presence of a centrally dilated<br />

atrophic gland surrounding by clustered<br />

smaller glands, which has been termed<br />

"post-atrophic hyperplasia (PAH)" {83}.<br />

Although the glands of benign atrophy<br />

may appear infiltrative on needle biopsy,<br />

they are not truly infiltrative, as individual<br />

benign atrophic glands are not seen infiltrating<br />

in between larger benign glands.<br />

Whereas some forms of atrophy, are<br />

associated with fibrosis, atrophic<br />

prostate cancer lack such a desmoplastic<br />

stromal response. Atrophic prostate<br />

cancer may also be differentiated from<br />

benign atrophy by the presence of<br />

marked cytologic atypia. Atrophy may<br />

show enlarged nuclei and prominent<br />

nucleoli, although not the huge<br />

eosinophilic nucleoli seen in some<br />

atrophic prostate cancers. Finally, the<br />

concomitant presence of ordinary less<br />

atrophic carcinoma can help in recognizing<br />

the malignant nature of the adjacent<br />

atrophic cancer glands.<br />

Pseudohyperplastic variant<br />

Pseudohyperplastic prostate cancer<br />

resembles benign prostate glands in that<br />

the neoplastic glands are large with<br />

branching and papillary infolding {1146,<br />

1485}. The recognition of cancer with this<br />

pattern is based on the architectural pattern<br />

of numerous closely packed glands<br />

as well as nuclear features more typical<br />

of carcinoma. One pattern of pseudohyperplastic<br />

adenocarcinoma consists of<br />

numerous large glands that are almost<br />

back-to-back with straight even luminal<br />

borders, and abundant cytoplasm.<br />

Comparably sized benign glands either<br />

have papillary infoldings or are atrophic.<br />

The presence of cytologic atypia in some<br />

of these glands further distinguishes<br />

them from benign glands. It is almost<br />

always helpful to verify pseudohyperplastic<br />

cancer with the use of immunohistochemistry<br />

to verify the absence of<br />

basal cells. Pseudohyperplastic cancer,<br />

despite its benign appearance, may be<br />

associated with typical intermediate<br />

grade cancer and can exhibit aggressive<br />

behaviour (ie., extraprostatic extension).<br />

Foamy gland variant<br />

Foamy gland cancer is a variant of acinar<br />

adenocarcinoma of the prostate that is<br />

characterized by having abundant foamy<br />

appearing cytoplasm with a very low<br />

nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio. Although<br />

the cytoplasm has a xanthomatous<br />

appearance, it does not contain lipid, but<br />

rather empty vacuoles {2637}. More typical<br />

cytological features of adenocarcinoma<br />

such as nuclear enlargement and<br />

prominent nucleoli are frequently absent,<br />

which makes this lesion difficult to recognize<br />

as carcinoma especially on biopsy<br />

material. Characteristically, the nuclei in<br />

foamy gland carcinoma are small and<br />

densely hyperchromatic. Nuclei in foamy<br />

gland cancer are round, more so than<br />

those of benign prostatic secretory cells.<br />

In addition to the unique nature of its<br />

cytoplasm, it is recognized as carcinoma<br />

by its architectural pattern of crowded<br />

and/or infiltrative glands, and frequently<br />

present dense pink acellular secretions<br />

{1880}. In most cases, foamy gland cancer<br />

is seen in association with ordinary<br />

A<br />

B<br />

Fig. 3.24 Atrophic adenocarcinoma. A Note the microcystic pattern and B the prominent nucleoli.<br />

Acinar adenocarcinoma 175

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